Much has been written on North Korea and its infamous leader Kim Jong-un. He has proven to be an unstable, brutal and erratic dictator whose pension for control, power, and attention could be enough to push him over the nuclear weapon’s edge. The problem is a nuclear attack by North Korea, on anyone, would be a disastrous event that would involve more than just North Korea and their target, it would affect the whole region and drag much of the world into a conflict…literally, a global event.

Understanding this, how do we curb the North Korean leader’s ambitions? In what manner do we convince a young, inexperienced, power hungry, and closed-minded narcissist to stop? Do we encourage him, pamper him, or sanction him into submission? Or is it better to threaten him?

Well, we do have President Trump. A new face to geopolitics and handling rogue nations. Yet, Trump’s most recent rhetoric seems cartoonish in nature, much like we hear from other closed and oppressive societies…aka Iran, Venezuela, or Cuba…not a sophisticated U.S. Further, if you ask any seasoned diplomat they would say Trump’s rhetoric is downright dangerous…but is it?

Is tough rhetoric what Kim Jong-un needs? A language he understands? A threat that is straight forward and more importantly from an American president whose history of “what he says” is “what he does.” Maybe this is just what the doctor ordered? In other words, “fight fire with fire.”

And, more importantly, is there more to this tough rhetoric and is it really meant for someone else?

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